Clifford Geertz

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A cultural theorist

The Man who Pioneered “Thick

Description” in Anthropology

Culture, according to Geertz, is “a system of

inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic
forms by means of which men communicate,
perpetuate, and develop their knowledge
about and attitudes toward life.”

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Clifford Geertz
Click to edit – Early
Master title style Years and Education

Clifford Geertz was born on August 23, 1926, in San

Francisco, California.

He grew up in a middle-class Jewish family and

attended local public schools.

As a child, he developed an interest in literature and

philosophy, which later influenced his work as an
anthropologist.
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Geertz’s academic
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Master title style in philosophy and
literature greatly impacted his work as an
anthropologist.

He believed that anthropology should be

approached as a form of interpretive social
science rather than a positivistic one.

This meant that instead of focusing on

quantifiable data and statistics, anthropologists
should focus on understanding the meanings
behind cultural practices and symbols 3 3
Theory of “thick description”
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The Interpretation of Cultures: Selected Essays.

In it, he articulated the theory of thick

description which calls for anthropologists to
provide detailed contextual information
about the cultural phenomena they study.
According to Geertz, such an approach is
necessary for making sense of the
complexities of human behavior. 4 4
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Thick description involves not only observing and
recording observable behavior but also
interpreting what that behavior means within its
cultural context.

This approach requires anthropologists to

immerse themselves in the culture they are
studying, to understand the underlying values,
beliefs, and assumptions that shape people’s
behavior. 5 5
 Click to edit Master title style
What role does culture play in a child’s learning
process?

Culture instils values, ideologies, and customs in

students.

It has an effect on a child’s interactions with

parents, siblings, companions, and educators.

It has an impact on their verbal and nonverbal

communication. 6 6